When the lights shine brightest, the biggest stars come to the fore. In a moment that required resilience, with the clock ticking and the game on the line, Mitchell seized the spotlight.

The Cavaliers trailed by a point with 9.1 seconds left after Damian Lillard, known for his late-game heroics, drained a 15-foot step-back jumper that electrified the Milwaukee crowd. The roar in the Fiserv Forum was deafening, as if the game had been sealed.

But Mitchell wasn’t about to let the night end there. With ice in his veins, he took the ball in his hands as all eyes in the building were on him. Facing a suffocating defense, fumbling with the ball, Mitchell quickly recovered for a 20-foot pull-up jump shot that seemed to hang in the air for a moment. As it whizzed through the net, the crowd’s outburst turned to stunned silence. Mitchell had answered Lillard’s moment with one of his own, silencing the Milwaukee faithful and sealing a thrilling victory for the Cavs.

Mitchell finished an evening that started as a significant challenge with 30 points. Jarrett Allen also had a crucial 15 points and 12 rebounds while battling on the interior.

Milwaukee surged ahead from the start, fueled by Lillard’s shooting barrage from beyond the arc, with the All-Star guard drilling three triples in quick succession. Cleveland found itself struggling, momentarily pulled away from the structured offense that had been key to its undefeated start. The Cavs responded by hoisting three-pointers of their own, trying to match Milwaukee’s pace and firepower – a tactic that quickly backfired.

Head coach Kenny Atkinson called a much-needed timeout after the Bucks ripped off nine straight points, urging his team to refocus on what got them to this point in the season: defense and discipline.

After that timeout, the Cavaliers took action. Defensively, they tightened rotations, closed down passing lanes and began to dictate the pace. After giving up a 38-point first quarter, the Cavs’ defense held firm, holding Milwaukee to under 25 points in both the second and third quarters. This defensive posture allowed the Cavs to rally back and enter the final quarter with a narrow three-point lead.

Although Lillard ultimately scored 41 points, Isaac Okoro’s tireless defense forced him into tough shots and disrupted Milwaukee’s rhythm. Meanwhile, Giannis Antetokounmpo scored a game-high 34 points, but Cleveland’s game plan kept the supporting cast in check. The Cavs forced the Bucks into double-digit turnovers, effectively limiting their offensive possessions in the final stretch.

The Cavs’ scoring came through a well-rounded approach, with six players reaching double figures compared to Milwaukee’s four.

Atkinson has emphasized an egalitarian offense and defense, where every player on the floor can impact the game. Saturday’s win demonstrated how Cleveland’s roster buys into this vision, adapting and executing midway through the game. The Cavs’ disciplined response to adversity, from defensive rotations to timely contributions from role players, is becoming a hallmark of Atkinson’s system.

As the Cavaliers look ahead, their undefeated streak has more than just numerical significance; it reflects a newfound resilience. At 7-0, this start represents not only a strong record, but also a team that, even in tough games and hectic schedules, finds ways to play their own game and come out on top.